Hoisting gear and the like



April 25, 1944. R. cLARSKE 2,347,395

v HO ISTVING GEAR AND THE LIKE Filed Deo. 9, 1942 s Smets-sheet 1 Wk* 7 Attorney,

April 25, 1944.

R. c. CLARKE 2,347,395 HoIsTING GEAR AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 9, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 a 21a 3E .9/ .33.52 12] w *f' 2 A 7 Q, a* 2/ Y 22433 9 6J 4. 30

J l ff ad f-v Inventor.

RQLAND CYR/L C L ARKE.

tlorney.

April 25, 1944.

R. C. CLARKE HOISTING GEAR AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. '9, 1942 I nvenlon ROLAND CYRIL CL ARHE.

- A tlorney.

Patented Apr. 25, 1944 HOISTING GEAR AND THE LIKE Roland Cyril Clarke, Whitley Bay, England Application December 9, 1942, seria1N0.46s,4oa

In Great Britain November 26, 1941) 11 claims.

This invention relates to hoisting gear and the like of the kind wherein the hoisting or the like drum is resiliently connected to its driving shaft so as to be capable of allowing the automatic pulling out of a length of cable and its subsequent taking up, if necessary, without any-undue stress being imparted to the driving shaft, which conditions are met with when the distance between the hoisting gear and the object to be raised varies during the hoisting operation, for example in the raising of a seaplane from the sea to the ships deck when the seais other than smooth.

In previous proposals this has been eiected by inserting a spiral spring between the driving shaft and the drum, the number of relative revolutions between the two members being obtained by inserting one or more rotatable arms which engage claws in the two members, and, where there are a plurality of such arms, thereafter in succession to one another, to transmit the drive when the spring has been wound up for its predetermined number of turns prior to the drive becoming solid.

The object of the present invention is to provide means whereby the amount of relative turning between the driving shaft and the drum may be as much or as little as desired apart from the number of turns of which the resilient member is capable, so that, if desiredthe spiral` type of spring may be dispensed with.

According to the invention the resilient connection between the driving shaft and the drum is eiected through reduction gearing, so that for one revolution of the one member the resilient member is made to take up a fraction of a revolution only.

According to another feature of the invention a slipping clutch is provided whereby in the event of the whole of the relative movement being utilised before any sudden stress has been relieved, slip occurs between the driving shaft and the drum.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which the resilient connection comprises a pair of helical springs or spring units.

In the said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation ci a form in which the drum and hoisting gear casing are combined.

Fig. 2 is a section -takenon the line IIV-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line III-III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. '1 of a form in which the hoisting gear and drum are separate.

Fig. 5 is alongitudinalsectional elevation of a form comprising an epicyclic gear, with the hoisting gear entirely housed in the drum.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line VI-VI of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a similar view to that 4shown in Fig. 5 with a modification in the epicyclic gear arrangement.

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7. Y.

Fig. 9 is a partial longitudinal sectional elevation taken on line IX-IX of Fig. 10 of a form in which the spring mechanismr is separately enclosed and in which a plurality of compression springs in parallel are used.

Fig. 10 is an end view'of Fig. 9 with the spring casing removed, and looking in the direction of the arrow.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, the drum comprises the drum portion, proper and an extension in which is housed the hoisting gear, the whole being mounted by ball bearings 2,1,3 on a drum shaft 4-driven by any suitable means, not shownon which there is also mounted so as to be rotatable thereon a central pinion 5 whichI engages with two similar gear wheels 6 of largery i diameter than its own, each of said gear wheels ping clutch band I2 which is operativelyconnected by means of a pin I3 to a lug Ic projecting from the drum 1. The central gear wheel Ill also has integral therewith a sleeve Illa on which is rigidly mounted a diametral arm I4 having an eye bolt I5 at eachrend to which is attached one end of a tension spring I6, .the other end of which is attached to a pin I'I slidable in a segmental grooveA 8a in the end wall- 8b of the l housing 8 and in a similar groove ISa in a-guide plate I8. The end of la second'an'd similar spring I9 is at one end -attached to the pin. I1 .and at its other end tothe lay shaft 'I and thus to the housing or frame 8l. i

The arrangement of the` springs is such that when the drum is being rotated in a hoisting operation and its cable paid out by the Weight of the load overcoming the springs, the springs are extended to their outmost. The diametral arm I4 abuts against the stops 20 on the frame 8 when such limit is reached, so that thereafter the drive between the drum I and the arm I4 is solid, and the drum will then slip or rewind according as the weight is held or released.

At the end of the shaft 4 opposite to that where the hoisting gear is situated there is arranged a ratchet clutch for giving a solid drive between the shaft 4 and the drum I. This clutch comprises a ratchet disk 2I formed integral with the end wall Ib of the drum I, and having radial face ratchet teeth 2Ia with which are adapted to engage pawls 22 having rollers 22a at their outer ends, which pawls arey pivotally mounted on a disk 23. The disk 23 is rigid with a sleeve 23a which is keyed to the shaft 4; and slidably mounted on the sleeve 23a is an operating disk 24 which is adapted to be moved against the pawls 22` when'it is desired to disengage the ratchet clutch. A bridle 25 engaging a groove in the hub 24a of the disk 24 serves for operating the said disk.

In use, for example for raising a seaplane or a Aboat aboard ship, the main'or ratchet clutch is released, and the cable is pulled out from the drum I by a pilot cable attached to the main cable. The pilot cable is then temporarily attached to the load-,the seaplane or the boatwhich is assumed to be riding on unsmooth water. Thereafter, as the load falls and rises, the drum first turns at a greater rate than allowed by the rotation of the shaft 4,V the relative movement being transmitted through the clutch II, I2, pinion 5, wheels 6, pinions!! and I0, arm I4 to the springs I6, I9 which are thus put under tension until the rising action begins, when the springs assert themselves and cause the drum. I to turn in the opposite direction to wind in the slack on the cable. Thuisl the pilot cable, owing to thecontrol of the resilient drive, maintains a steady pull on themain cable as itis being unwound. The main cablfeis thus gradually paid out as'the loadrises or falls on the water until the main attachment is. mada when the loadv maybe hoisted by. inserting the main clutch, WhetherY the springs of. the,` resilient drive are fully extended. r. no.

The above arrangement of interconnected pairs of springsl attached at their connections to sliding members allowsr of a greater amount of extension of the springs than is possible with a single spring, the individual springsy being maintained at a substantially constant distance from the driving shaft. Morethan two springs may be interconnected in this manner, in which case the slotswhich may be straight or curvedare made successively longer asI they become more remote from the spring which is secured to the frame 8.

Fig. 4 shows an arrangement of hoisting gear similar to that above describedv as applied to a drum of relatively small diameter. As shown Vthe resilient driving gear is situated outside theA hoisting drum v and` the, frame 8 is keyed to the drum shaft and extendeclitowards the drum to form a housing 8Ia for the slipping clutch parts II, I2', I3. Another housing 2l encloses the springs and parts ofthe reduction gearing and is connected to the frame 8 to rotate therewith and with the shaft 2e. The mechanism of Fig. 4 is otherwise similar to that of Figs. 1-3 and'operates in thel same manner.A

Figs. 5 and 6 show an arrangement comprising an epicyclic gear for transmitting the relative movement between the drum and shaft to the springs. It also shows the resilient hoisting gear totally housed inside the drum.

As in the forms heretofore described, the drive is through a slipping clutch drum 28 rigid with a sleeve 29 loose on the shaft 4, sun pinion 30 on the said sleeve, planet pinions 3| meshing with the pinion 30, smaller pinions 32 rigid with the pinions 4I and engaging with a crown wheel 3 3 on a flanged disk 34 rigid with the shaft 4, the pinions 3|, 32 being loose on spindles 35 projecting from an arm 36 loose on the shaft 4. Between the arm 36 and the disk 34 two single tension springs 31 are arranged as shown in Fig. 6. Thev Whole is housed in the drum.

Where the drum is smaller than the resilient gear the latter is housed in a separate casing as in the case of the form shown in Fig. 4.

In the form shown in Figs. '7 and 8, the planet wheels 38,` 39. are mounted on a spindle 48 on the clutch drum 28 and the larger pinion 38 meshes with a sun wheel 4I rigid with the shaft 4, while the smaller pinion 39 meshes with a loose sun wheel 42 having a sleeve extension 42a on which is rigidly mounted a double spring arm 43 to which the one end of each of the springs 36 is secured, the other endbeing secured to a second spring arml 44 rigid with the shaft 4.

In this form the spindle 4U turns with the drum 28' and so causes the pinions 38 to roll about the fixed sun wheel 4I. The pinion 39 thus causes the loose Sun wheel 42 to turn at a lower speed and with it the spring arm 43, so thatA the springs 3.6. are extended.

Figs. 9 and l0 show an arrangement in which the spring mechanism is` separately enclosed and comprisessprings arranged in parallel. The reduction gear is housed` in casing 45 secured to the drum I and is of the epicyclic form shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The loose sun wheel 46 is rigid with a sleeve, 4l loose on the extended shaft 4 at the other end of which sleeve is rigidly mounted a double spring arm 48.

Pivotally mounted about each of two diametrically oppositepins 49 rigidwith a housing 50 keyed on shaft 4` isa spring casing 5I in which are locatedthree compression springs 52 each of` which lies in one` of three cylindrical compartments into which the said casing is divided. Passingy through each casing 5I is a rod arranged coaxially with itsspring 52 and at one end being pivotally connected to one of the ends of the ends of the arms 48, and at, its other end having a collar 54, held thereon by nuts 55, 55 and actingl as an abutment for its respective spring 52. Fig. 10 shows the action of this arrangement, the full lines showing thepositions taken up by the diierent members when the springs 52 are fully extended, andthe dotted lines, when the springsV are fully compressed;

This arrangement of springs in parallel enables the diameter of the device to be kept down while permitting any weight of spring, so that by still further reducing the gear ratio between the drumand shaft they amount of resilience of the resilient connectionmay be increased. The separation of the spring gear from the reduction gear allows of the forms to be enclosed in a separate oil-tight casing-so that the springs may be cooled and lubricated thoroughly.

By introducing in series further pairs of large and small gears between the central pinion and the central gear-wheel, the amount ofrelative movement between the drum and shaft may be increased. This may be effected according to one form of construction, without adding to the length of the device, by having one lay shaft only with its larger pinion meshing with the central pinion instead of t-e above lay shafts with their` smaller pinions all meshing with the central pinion (see Figs. 1 to 4), and then to space further pairs of gears circumferentially about the driving shaft, with the smaller gear of the first lay shaft engaging with the larger gear of the second lay shaft, and so on,the number of lay shafts being increased if necessary-the smaller gear of the last lay shaft engaging with the central gear wheel, after the manner of the reduction gearing between a clock spring and its hands.

It will be appreciated that the relative arrangement of the springs and spring arms may be varied to give varying advantages. For example in the form shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the torsional eiort required to compress the springs may be increased by reversing the arrangement of the springs and spring arms so that the latter act directly on the springs instead of through a tension rod.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A hoisting gear comprising a cable hoisting drum, a driving shaft therefor, a member fast on said shaft, a member rotatable relatively to said shaft, resilient means between said members said resilient means being operable through only a fraction of a revolution of one of said members relatively to the other, and means including reduction gearing vbetween one of said members and said drum for transmitting rotation to said drum independently of its drive by said shaft to an extent greater than said fractional rotation of said rotatable member.

2. A hoisting gear according to claim 1 including a slipping clutch between said drum and said reduction gearing.

3. A hoisting gear according to claim 1, wherein the resilient means include helical springs.

4. A hoisting gear according to claim 1, wherein the resilient means include helical springs each consisting of a plurality of spring elements the points of interconnection of which are slidable in grooves in a member fast on the driving shaft.

5. A hoisting gear comprising, a cable hoisting drum, a driving shaft therefor, a frame fast on said shaft, an arm rotatable relatively to said shaft, resilient means between said frame and said arm said resilient means being operable through only a fraction of a revolution of said arm relatively to said frame, a pinion driven from the drum and loose on said shaft, a concentric pinion of larger diameter loose on said shaft, at least one lay shaft carried by said frame, and pinions fast on each lay shaft and engaging said first mentioned pinions, said pinions forming a reduction gear whereby said drum is rotatable independently of its drive by 10 said shaft to an extent greater than said fractional rotation of said arm.

6. A hoisting gear according to claim 1 in lwhich the means including the reduction gearing is an epicyclic gear set including a sun pinion driven from the drum and loose on the driving shaft, a crown wheel carried by the member fast on the driving shaft, planet double pinions of different diameter, spindles carried by said relatively rotatable member on which said planet pinions are rotatably mounted, and

the larger pinion of said double pinions meshing with said sun pinion and the smaller with said crown wheel.

'7. A hoisting gear according to claim 1 wherein the means including the reduction gearing includes an epicyclic gear having a sun wheel fast on the driving shaft, a second sun wheel loose on said shaft and fast on said relatively rotatable member, double pinions of differing diameter, spindles carrying said pinions, a clutch disc loose on said shaft and engageable with said drum and carrying said spindles, the larger diameter pinion meshing with the fast sun wheel and the smaller diameter pinion with the loose sun wheel.

8. A hoisting gear according to claim 1 wherein the resilient means includes compression springs, housings pivotally mounted on said member fast on said shaft and enclosing said springs, rods traversing said housings and connected at one end to the other of said members, and abutments for the springs fixed on the other ends of said rods.

9. A hoisting gear according to claim 1 wherein the resilient means include linearly acting spring elements between said rotatable member' and the member fast on said shaft.

10. A hoisting gear according to claim 1 wherein the resilient means include spring elements operable in tension between said rotatable member and the member fast on said shaft.

11. A hoisting gear according to claim 1 'wherein the resilient means include spring elements operable in compression between said rotatable member and the member fast on said shaft.

ROLAND CYRIL CLARKE. 

